Wichita eagle., 1887-12-31
If were not that he had seen Mildred he

/ ---~~N~~N
| Yet he could not make much Roadway. He
had to repeatedly dodge the advancing waters
| and it was so dark he could see nothing
| When he had thought he had walked quar-
! ter of a mile he halted and shouted Mildred"
| But no voice responded to his call. Again
and atsain he repeated his halloo, and just as
he began to think a terrible calamity had
overtaIlen his sweetheart, he stumbled over
| something-a woInan-Mildred
Dick was on his knees in an instant and
was borrified TO find Mldred's dress and hair
soaking wet She lay as though dead-pel-
haps she was dead-and yet she could hardly
have been drowned, though even at that mo-
ment huge wave broke up intentionally
! close TO Dick and bis lifeless companion
Dick Ryder was no simpieton; he did not
lose his senses, although his heart was sad and
| heavy. His first care was to carry the poor
girl as far as he could from the water, and
when be had deposited his burden at the foot
of the cliff he felt her pulse and found it still
! beating, feebly. He chafed her hands and
tore away the dress from the slender neck.
Then he put his ear down to her face and
found that she was breathing family, in
short, quick gGsps. 1t was an embarrassing
situation. The night so dark that he conld
not see the senseless girl at his feet On one
side the high cliffs and on the other the sea
running in on high tide, threatening to cut
off retreat by way Of the beach.
There was only one chance and he would
take it. He must hurry bac., 10 the path
way by which he had descended from the
road and secure help from the cottage which
Ae knew TO be few rods back from the cliff
at that point
He kissed the cold, vet lirs and started of.
IN ten minutes he was at-the cottage. While
waiting for the man be found there to light
/ lantern, he noticed that his hand held min
iature portrait in setting of diamonds. He
must have torn it from Mildred's neck when
lie loosened her dress, for there was frag-
ment OF silk thread attached to t.
Jnconsciously, almost, be looked at the
Portrait was Walter Rockwell! He had
completely forgotten the existence of such a
person during the excitement OF the last half
hour, bat even at such time as tins the dis
tasteful TACT Of bis engagement to Mildred
must lie forced upon him swell, no mat
ter thought Dick, Il must save her for
him.
Ten minutes mora and Mildred was beir,
carried 70 the cottage on a hastily inpro-
vised stretch-r. When they reached the cot
taGe the mans wife was in waiting with dry
clothing and VAN drink4 And then. for
the first time, Dick saw that the girl he had
found on the shore was not Mildred at all.
And yet the stranger was 50 wonderfully
like Mildred in height ard figure. as we'll as
the shape of her head, that it was 10 wonder
Dick Ryder had been mistaken Tho old
lady took absolute charge of the stranger,
and Dick, atter promising 10 cab in tho morn
ing. hurried of 20 Red She'll bay.
E2rly in the morning he was I'D to the
Frevors' cottage, where lie found Mildred
perfectly well, and wondering why he had
rot been to see her on the previous evening.
OF course he had TO narrats his adventure,
which he did with much modesty mot men
tioning the kiss he had bestowed upon the
stranger.
Mildred insisted upon accompanying him
10 the cottage, and together they set out in
q carriage which Dick had in waiting. They
learned that the girl had quite recovered
from the effects of her InishaD, and half an
hour after their arrival she appeared on the
porch III a bright dress that Mildred had
brought For her use. The two girls were 50
much alike that they would easily have
passed for two sisters. The stranger spoke
first
"Mr.-Mr.-" C-Ryder" suggested Dick.
"Mr Ryder, how can l thank you? came
down from New York on the night train,
and yesterday morning started out to walk
from Derbyvile station to Red Shell bay. l
thought that I could easily walk ten miles.
but lost my way, and, as YOU know, by sun
set was still some distance from my destina-
ton. | was so weary and SO frightened
when the thick darkness gathered with suca
raniditv that, when that fearful flash of
lightning came, followed by The heavy thun-
der, tainted. Then | felt the water rush
ing over me, and recovered sufficiently to
drag myself little higher up the beach.
After tina, I tainted again, and knew no mora
until | awoke tins morning | must have
been great deal of trouble to you, and I
cannot thank you properly"
Dick murmursd something about "a pleas
sure etc. etc.
BY the way, resumed the young LADY. II
have missed a miniature painting which I
value highly. thought it just possible that
You might have found ia portrait Of nv
husband
Dick was astonished, but admirably sup.
pressed his surprise. Nay, more, he was even
capable of concocting n small scheme
Il did, said h., accidentally take this
miniature from You last night. 1t is an ex-
qasite little thing-you will not mind Mss
ir-vO" seeing it, and he passed the trinket
to Mildred
And now Dick thought be was about to
have another faintinS girl on his hands, but
AIidreG's pride carried her through. She
quietly admired the miniature and handed it
to is owner.
Il am lately from England explained tas
stranger, and learning that my husband was
at Red Shell bay, thought l wculi take him
by surprise. HIS name is Rockwell
Die, felt that he and Mildred had STAYED
oag enough So he suggested thnt Mrs.
Rockwell rest until the afternoon. when he
would call FOR her. He and Mildred drove
back 10 the yIllsge-and a very silent drive
il was
When Dick returned to the cottage for Mrs ,
Rockwell she was some. She had Leen driven /
D,er to D,rbyyllle. and had returned 20 New /
! OK. Dick and Mildred never saw her .
again, nor Walter Rockwell either.
That evening. which was quiet and fair, /
Dick ana Mildred strolled along the sands /
Very near the spot where he found Mrs |
Rockwell Dick whispered 10 his love:
You VIII rot let any one else come between
Is viii You, dear
For an answer Mildred kissed him. Moth
ne was then or since said OF the letter which
I'D troubled Dick. Arm il arm they st~olled
Jack along the shore, and they have walked
rn III arm along the sands OF Time ever
iuce.-New York Morning Journal
An engineer on the Wabash railway, whose
rain has Yet 70 meet wiki its first accident,
attributes his 4ocl fortune to a cat that has
zen his constant companion in the cab Tor